Mushroom
Mushroom - Early One Morning (1973)
Mushroom - Early One Morning (1973)
Artist: MUSHROOM
Album: Early One Morning
Released: 1973 Ireland/2004
Label: Radioactive Records ( RRCD053 )
Genre: Irish Progressive-Folk Rock
Review:
*** An Irish group who formed in Dublin in 1972. Their album is very rare and expensive to obtain, some copies included a poster and naturally these fetch a little more. Their 45s are minor collectables too. Their blend of progressivism and Irish folk music is well worth seeking out so snap up the Little Wing reissue, which also includes both sides of their first 45 while you can.
This album, if you can find it, is a truly brilliant piece of musical excellence. The traditional aspect of their music mixed with undoubted rock influences is continued by other artists such as the Horslips, but I believe that Mushroom have pioneered the genre with this album. Some classic tunes include Liothdon (along with it's counterpart Crying), and the second side of this disc is almost all memorable rock riffs mixed with fantastic flute reels and minor chordage, such as Standing Alone, Johnny The Jumper, Potters Wheel, King Of Alba et al.
A definite purchase for anyone wanting to explore the Irish side of progressive music. Horslips were not the only band to call themselves traditional rock in Ireland!
*** Formed in Dublin in the early 70’s, MUSHROOM were one of Ireland's leading pop bands from ‘70 to ‘74. In fact, they had a huge hit with their first single "Devil Among the Tailors" from their LP "Early one morning" which reached no. 2 in the Irish top 20 charts in 1973, selling over a 100,000 LP’s and singles; another song, “Kings and Queens”, reached number 13 the following year. They band comprised five musicians among whom were violinist Pat Collins and guitarist Aengus McNally, son of actor Ray McNally; the other three contributed to the band’s acid folk sound with organ, moog, harpsichord, bass, drums, tin whistles, chimes, bodhran and vocals. As far as comparisons go, HORSLIPS comes immediately to mind.
Their album features traditional Celtic folk-flavoured melodies that are given both a delicate and hard-rocking treatment: delicate in the form of melodic, mellow ballads, and hard rocking when Collins’s fiddles battle it out with McNally’s fuzzy, blazing guitar, particularly on traditional instrumental jigs. Although not as sophisticated and instrumentally accomplished as a FAIRPORT CONVENTION or a STEELEYE SPAN, for example, MUSHROOM’s release is still worth a spin despite the average sound quality, if only for the pleasure of hearing some vintage psychedelia given a nifty Celtic folk treatment.( Progarchives )
Tracklist:
1. Early One Morning 2:36
2. The Liathdan 4:20
3. Crying 3:53
4. Unborn Child 3:46
5. Johnny The Jumper 3:08
6. Potters Wheel 2:22
7. Standing Alone 5:39
8. Devil Among The Tailors 2:44
9. Tenpenny Piece 3:29
10. Drowsey Maggie 3:59
11. King Of Alba 4:21